Boycotted hotelier woos gays

I have to wonder, because Doug Manchester – who likes to be called by that goofy “Papa” nickname – is about to throw a serious chunk of change at gay and lesbian causes.

My bet is that it's not a super-early Christmas present, but an attempt to derail that pesky boycott targeting his three hotels, including the Manchester Grand Hyatt in downtown San Diego.

Manchester, a devout Catholic, gave $125,000 to get Proposition 8 on the ballot last year. He wasn't against gays and lesbians, he said, just the marrying part.

Gays and lesbians decided they weren't against the Hyatt, considered a gay-friendly company, just the Manchester part.

In July, the boycott began.

Manchester brushed it off at first, but he seems to feel otherwise now:

His plan – which his people warned this newspaper against publishing, even after a Hyatt representative discussed it – is to give $25,000 to a national organization that promotes civil unions and domestic partnerships.

Manchester also is considering offering $100,000 in hotel credit to local gay and lesbian organizations so they can use the Grand Hyatt for events such as fundraisers.

The $125,000 total matches what he gave to Proposition 8. So it would be even-steven.

“He's trying to clarify his views,” said Kelly Commerford, director of marketing for the Grand Hyatt, one of the largest hotels on the West Coast. “He's not discriminatory. He's supportive of this community. He realizes he offended people.”

This probably was not all Manchester's idea. For the past three months, he's been taking advice from Los Angeles PR and crisis-management master Howard Bragman, a gay man who married his partner last year and opposed Proposition 8.

Bragman has represented Naomi Campbell, that sweet pussycat of a supermodel, and actor Isaiah Washington, who was fired from “Grey's Anatomy” after using a gay slur against a co-star.

Manchester didn't return my calls, but I'm sure he realizes he can't win this battle. Particularly now, with even boycott-free hotels struggling. Occupancy in San Diego was about 66 percent in early April, down 13.2 percent from the year before.

And even though Manchester said he supports civil unions and has nothing against gays and lesbians, they're a group you don't want to anger. As the boycott drew more publicity and blog buzz, gays and lesbians knew to keep their travel cash – an estimated $70 billion each year – far away from a Manchester property.

So will this bit of charity make any difference with them?

Fred Karger of Californians Against Hate, which started the boycott along with a local labor group, said he hasn't heard a word from Manchester or his people. “I'd be delighted to talk,” he said.

Karger is in Toronto this weekend for the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association convention, where he's still plugging the boycott. He's already had some luck with it.

Just recently, the American Trial Lawyers Association joined the list of groups that have moved all or portions of their conventions to honor the boycott.

Former President Bill Clinton was pressured not to speak at the Hyatt for a February meeting of the International Franchise Association. He went ahead, and 150 or so protesters decided to greet him.

Although Manchester's people have downplayed the boycott's effects, his chief financial officer warned him in a July e-mail that he could lose millions from it.

The executive even suggested – imagine this – that Manchester make an offsetting donation to the campaign against Proposition 8, anything to avoid alienating the “large and very affluent” gay and lesbian market.

Manchester responded: “I am now really angry, and I consider this a personal attack on myself and my family.”

Some find it odd that Bragman would help Manchester. Not Bragman.

“I understand what he did and why he did it,” said the image-massager. Manchester, 66, is older and religious. He's not exactly the type that feels comfortable with same-sex marriage. That doesn't make him a bad guy.

Ron deHarte, executive director of San Diego Pride, wants to hear more on Manchester's offer before deciding whether his group would go for that hotel credit.

“There's been a tremendous amount of hurt feelings,” deHarte said.

If Papa Doug opens the checkbook, will that close this controversy?

Not likely, I say. It's going to take more than cash to make nice with gays, lesbians and their supporters.